Private well owners charged more for use of city sewer lines

hays private well owner — Delores Schmeidler, a Hays resident with a private water well, questions why her city sewer charge is higher than other residents who are city water customers.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

There are a few private water well owners in Hays who utilize the city’s sewer lines. According to Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty, the “handful of houses were grandfathered in many years ago that actually have private wells but then discharge wastewater into the city sewer.”

During the city commission’s July 16 discussions of the wastewater treatment plant upgrade project, Hays resident Delores Schmeidler asked why her sewer rate is higher than other residential customers. She is paying $24.65 a month, while an average resident using city water is charged $13.83 a month in sewer fees.

“Back in the ’60s, the governing body set a rate for these types of users,” Dougherty said. “Unless we put a meter on their water well, we don’t know how much volume is coming into our sewer system, and sewer charges are by volume,” he explained.

“When you pay your water bill, depending on the volume of water you used, that will determine what your sewer rate is. It will go up and down proportionately with your water usage.

“Since the city had no way of knowing without a meter on these private wells, they just put a ‘one size fits all’ sewer rate on them–probably a little on the high side–that way they could catch the average use in there.”

“(Schmeidler) assumed that she has been paying more than she would typically pay if she was hooked up to city water and she is correct. She asked the commissioners to review why this is being done.

“It’s completely up to the governing body if they want to change it. The customer does have the available alternative of allowing us to put a meter on her well and then she would be charged actual usage just like any other customer, but she didn’t want to do that.

“We (city staff) think it’s working just fine. I’ve been here 10 years and this is the first time I’ve heard of anybody questioning it,” Dougherty pointed out.

The ordinance regulating sewer rates for private well owners will be reviewed during tonight’s Hays city commission work session.

See the complete Aug. 20, 2015, agenda here.